I'm not sure you (or perhaps even the parent comment?) quite realize what "recourse" by a father would mean in Mississippi. I read that as, shooting the principal dead and possibly turning yourself in to the police. If you're white, you'll probably get off with jail time. If you're dark skinned or non-christian probably suicide by cop to avoid the unpleasant (in)justice. It's about protecting other children and making future principals think twice.

The US is a large country with highly variable laws and customs. Just as parts of Europe refer to other parts of Europe as 'North Africa'... when you say Florida or Missippi in the US it has a similar twang.